THE LANDMARK NEW YORK CITY CULTURAL INSTITUTION HAS CHAMPIONED THE WORK OF ARTISTS OF AFRICAN DESCENT FOR NEARLY 60 YEARS
HARLEM, N.Y., Sept. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — To mark her birthday today, global entertainer, entrepreneur and art collector, Beyoncé, makes a $2 million gift to the renowned Studio Museum in Harlem. Founded in 1968, the New York City cultural institution is the nexus for artists of African descent locally, nationally, and internationally and for work that has been inspired and influenced by Black culture. Beyoncé has long been an art collector and a true fan of the Museum’s mission of promoting multiple generations of artists of the African diaspora.
“Art tells all our stories; the past and the present, but is not always accessible to everyone,” says Beyoncé. “I have always been impressed with the Studio Museum in Harlem because of its intention to make the museum an integral part of the community. I have been introduced to several of my favorite young and upcoming Black artists through exhibits at the Museum. It is a place of inspiration where all audiences can discover new stories through the canvases of diverse storytellers that reflect our humanity.”
Thelma Golden, Ford Foundation Director and Chief Curator of the Studio Museum in Harlem, said, “I am deeply grateful to Beyoncé, both for the generosity of this gift, especially on her birthday, and for recognizing the vital role that the Studio Museum plays in people’s lives. Our institution was founded to shift the arts landscape and reimagine who that landscape serves. This gift will allow us to continue strengthening our work for Harlemites, New Yorkers, and audiences across the globe.”
About the Studio Museum in Harlem
Founded in 1968 by a diverse group of artists, community activists, and philanthropists, the Studio Museum in Harlem is internationally known for its catalytic role in promoting the work of artists of African descent. The Studio Museum’s new home, situated at its longtime location on West 125th Street, opened to the public on November 15, 2025. Designed by Adjaye Associates with Cooper Robertson serving as executive architect, the building—the first created expressly for the institution’s program—enables the Studio Museum to better serve a growing and diverse audience, provide additional educational opportunities for people of all ages, expand its program of world-renowned exhibitions, effectively display its singular collection, and strengthen its trailblazing Artist-in-Residence program.
For more information, visit studiomuseum.org.
Visitor Information
The Studio Museum in Harlem is located at 144 West 125th Street, between Malcolm X Boulevard (Lenox Avenue) and Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard (Seventh Avenue).
The Studio Museum is open Wednesday through Sunday, from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm, with extended hours on Friday, from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm.
The Museum is open to Members on Saturday mornings, from 10:00 to 11:00 am, before the galleries open to the public.
Admission rates are offered as a suggestion, with Sundays free for everyone. Suggested rates are $16 for adults and $9 for seniors (sixty-five years and over), students, and visitors with disabilities (care partners are free). Admission is free for children sixteen and under.
Tickets to the Studio Museum may be purchased online at studiomuseum.org/visit or at the Museum.
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